Bible Commentaries
Psalms 141

Verses 1-10

Psalms 141

A Cry For Preservation

Scripture v. 1-10:

Verse 1 Is an urgent cry of David for the Lord to give an attentive ear to his cry, and do it at once; because of a threat of impending danger against him, as also expressed, Psalms 17:6; Psalms 22:19; Psalms 70:5; Psalms 71:12; Psalms 140:6.

Verse 2 pleads "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." The prayer, to be accepted, was, to God, like sweet perfume, Malachi 1:11; Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3-4. The time for offering the morning and evening incense was also the chosen time of prayer, Exodus 30:7-8; Luke 1:10. The time of the evening sacrifice hour was also for beginning evening prayer, 1 Kings 18:36; Ezra 9:4-5.

Verse 3 relates David’s prayer, "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips," a prayer to keep him from sinning with his mouth and tongue, from murmuring and complaining against God, Micah 7:5; James 3:6; James 3:8-10.

Verse 4 requests that the Lord not permit his affection or impulses toward any kind of evil thing; especially he asked to be kept from the practice of wicked works with those that worked iniquity as a pattern of behavior, Psalms 119:36; We need to pray, "lead us not into temptations," which were a symbol of prosperity, lest he also be tempted to join the prosperous wicked in their deeds, Psalms 73:10; Proverbs 23:6.

Verse 5 asks that the Lord permit the righteous to smite David, the psalmist. For their smiting would be kind, if it kept him from practicing wickedness. He adds that the smiting and reproof of the righteous would be an act of kindness, like an excellent oil, that would not break his head, with death or deep grief, Numbers 32:7; Numbers 32:9; Psalms 33:10. Yet his prayer was to be for his enemies, in their calamities, even as Jesus did, Psalms 109:4-5.

Verse 6 declares that "when their judges (rulers, leaders; and princes) are overthrown in stony places," over rocky precipices, a common punishment, to their death, "They (the wicked) shall hear my words; for they are sweet," in comparison with the judgment of the wicked, Judges 11:26; Psalms 140:5; Jezebel was thus thrown down, 2 Kings 9:33; See also 2 Chronicles 25:12; Luke 4:29; Psalms 137:9; Psalms 2:9. See too Psalms 138:4.

Verse 7 laments "our bones (those of Israel) are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cuts and cleaveth (splits) wood upon the earth," in every direction or all about, to the seeming point of extinction, Ecclesiastes 10:9; Isaiah 5:14; Isaiah 26:19; 2 Corinthians 1:9. But one day those of the enemy shall be scattered, Psalms 53:5; Malachi 4:3.

Verse 8 appeals, "But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord," in the midst of their scattered and almost extinct condition, v. 7; See also Psalms 25:15; 2 Chronicles 20:12. He added "In thee is (exists) my trust; leave not my soul destitute," or bare, 2 Samuel 14:14; La 4:20.

Verse 9 pleads, "Keep (guard) me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins (nets or pits) of the workers of iniquity," or the hands and power of those who would entrap me, Isaiah 47:14; Hebrews 13:5; Psalms 34:7.

Verse 10 concludes "Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst I withal (in the meantime or at the same time) escape," or pass over their pits without falling in, as repeatedly illustrated Job 16:8; Ezra 7:10; Psalms 7:15; Psalms 35:8; Psalms 37:11; Psalms 64:7-8; Proverbs 11:8.